Fil-Dutch siblings sell cupcakes to help Yolanda victims

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands — At less than 10 years old, half-Filipino and half-Dutch siblings Kai and Danique De Wit already know what the victims of the most destructive typhoon in 2013 need.

Danique, 7, gladly explained to GMA News in Dutch what the victims, especially the children like them, would benefit from. “We would like them to have enough rice, lots of food and drinks and enough money to buy batteries for the lamps,” she said.

To provide for this need, this brother-and-sister team from 's-Gravenzande in the Netherlands decided to sell cupcakes to help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

It was Danique's idea to sell the cupcakes. She thought of it after coming from school on Tuesday where the effects of the typhoon was discussed and where many of her classmates and teachers asked them if their family is alright.

“Upon coming back from school, mom said, 'Let's make some cupcakes!' Then I came up with the idea of selling cupcakes on the street. I also suggested that we make Philippine cupcakes, because this is especially for the Philippines,” the Dutch girl said, coupled with a dimpled smile.

Mother Rosalie, who herself has family in Cebu City, baked the cupcakes in two different flavors—one vanilla and one cassava, which they called Philippine cupcakes. On their first day of action, they knocked on every door in their own neighborhood to raise the needed funds. The Philippine cupcakes were a hit since the neighbors found them symbolic of the reason behind what they called a marvelous act of kindness from the children.

Danique's brother Kai, 9, did not only help her sell the cupcakes but gave up all of his savings for the victims of the typhoon without thinking twice.

“We want to help the Philippines because we cannot imagine what the victims are going through at the moment. They have lost everything – their houses, their toys, their dads. Can you imagine how difficult that is?” he said.

Kai and Danique initially planned their target amount of money to raise at 100 euros, but since they also included their savings with their first day of sale, they already raised almost 80 euros.

They also intend to continue to sell the cupcakes at school and during football games. The school where they are studying also began a fundraising campaign for the victims of the typhoon by collecting empty bottles that can be exchanged for money.

The money they raise will go directly to GIRO 555, an account set up by different organizations in the Netherlands collaborating to raise funds for victims of large-scale calamities such as Typhoon Yolanda. At the time of this writing, the Dutch has donated 18.5 million euros to the victims of the typhoon. More help–in cash and in kind–are underway. — KBK, GMA News